The Mastermind

In the 1970s, before surveillance cameras blanketed every corner and security guards still dozed off, art thieves could boldly walk into a museum in broad daylight, lift a painting off the wall, and stroll out with it tucked under their arm. Behind this seemingly childish heist was a mastermind who lived in the suburbs—a harmless, unassuming family man. Kelly Reichardt completely abandons the Hollywood heist formula, instead using her signature minimalist leftist lens to capture the daily life of an art criminal, the double life of a man caught between two worlds, and the human warmth and coldness surrounding the events. Arthur Dove's abstract paintings may not be an excuse, but the absurd road trip that ultimately highlights existence adds layers of appreciation and contemplation for the audience.